Current Affairs Quiz – December 2025

Notes:
ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute launched a stock enhancement programme for short-neck clam (Paphia malabarica) in Ashtamudi Lake showing early signs of recovery. Short-neck clam is a valuable bivalve mollusk and India’s first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified species. It is the major fishery resource of brackish water Ashtamudi Lake.

Notes:
The Prime Minister (PM) spoke about Ramban Sulai Honey in the 128th episode of Mann Ki Baat radio programme. This honey is made in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir from nectar of wild Sulai (basil) flowers. It is known for its rich taste, floral smell, high nutrition, and medicinal value. Bees collect nectar from Sulai flowers during August to October. The honey is crystal-clear, white to amber in colour, and rich in minerals, enzymes, and vitamins. It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2021. It is selected under the One District, One Product (ODOP) scheme of Government of India.

Notes:
Chief Minister (CM) Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the 36th Konark Festival, 15th International Sand Art Festival, and Subhadra Shakti Mela at Chandrabhaga beach, Odisha. The events were held near the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage Konark Sun Temple. Classical dances like Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Manipuri, and Kathak are performed. 143 sand artists from India and abroad are participating in the sand art festival. The festival runs from 1 to 5 December 2025

Notes:
The 46th Annual Conference of the Indian Association for the Study of Population (IASP) was inaugurated at the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI), Kolkata. The conference was organised jointly by IASP, National Atlas & Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO), and AnSI. The conference theme was “People, Planet, Prosperity: Demographic Drivers of India’s Inclusive Growth.” United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India felicitated the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) for receiving the 2025 United Nations Population Award (Institutional Category).

Notes:
The Government of India, through the Tea Board of India, is implementing the Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS) in Assam to boost tea production, quality, exports, and small grower income. From 2021–22 to 2025–26, ₹152.76 crore was allocated and ₹150.20 crore was used in Assam. The scheme supported replantation in 437.42 hectares, formed 318 Self Help Groups (SHGs), 143 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and 26 Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs). It helped set up 31 mini tea factories, converted 30.32 hectares to organic tea, and ran 1,343 capacity-building programmes. Indian tea exports rose from USD 751.07 million (2021–22) to USD 923.89 million (2024–25).

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India has released the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2025–30 as a five-year plan called Panch-Jyoti. The strategy is approved by the Sub-Committee of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC). It sets 5 strategic objectives supported by 47 actionable steps to expand financial access. Financial inclusion means access to banking, payments, savings, credit, and insurance in a safe and affordable way. The pillars focus on better financial services, women-centred inclusion, linking livelihoods with finance, financial education, and strong consumer protection.

Notes:
Bioremediation means “restoring life through biology” using microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants to clean polluted land and water. These organisms break oil, pesticides, plastics, and heavy metals into safer products like water and carbon dioxide. In situ bioremediation treats pollution at the site, while Ex situ bioremediation treats removed soil or water in a facility. India needs it due to severe river, soil, and industrial pollution and the high cost of traditional cleanup methods. It is cheap, eco-friendly, job-creating, but needs strict safety rules for genetically modified (GM) microbes.

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system at controlled velocity. The test was carried out at the Rail Track Rocket Sled facility of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory, Chandigarh. It validated canopy severance, ejection sequencing, and complete aircrew recovery using an instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy. The test was conducted in collaboration with the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). A dual-sled system with LCA aircraft forebody was propelled using multiple solid propellant rocket motors.

Notes:
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is declared over after 42 days without new cases, confirmed by Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) health officials and the World Health Organization (WHO). Ebola, caused by orthoebolaviruses, first discovered in 1976 in DRC near the Ebola River, leads to severe hemorrhagic fever with internal bleeding. It spreads from wild animals like fruit bats and non-human primates, and among humans through direct contact with infected body fluids, not through air.

Notes:
The Haryana government will release a consolidated quarterly amount under the Deen Dayal Lado Lakshmi Yojana (DDLKY) instead of monthly payments of Rs 2,100. The scheme was launched on 25 September 2025, coinciding with Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s birth anniversary, with a budget of Rs 5,000 crore. It provides financial assistance to married and unmarried women aged 23–60 years with annual income up to Rs 1 lakh through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).